Trump says he's terminating trade talks with Canada over anti-tariff ad

U.S. Chairperson Donald ruff says he is terminating all merchandise negotiations with Canada o'er an advertisement by the Ontario regime that uses the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan's own words to send an anti-tariff message to American audiences.

In a late-night post to his Truth Social platform, Trump attacked the ad, which he attributed to Canada rather than Ontario, as fraudulent and fake.

"TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A." Trump wrote. "Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED."

Just two weeks ago, after Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House, Trump directed two senior members of his cabinet to get a deal with Canada on steel, aluminum and energy.

The ad that prompted Trump's sudden cancellation of the talks comes from Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government. It contains a minute-long excerpt from then-president Reagan's April 1987 radio address about free trade.

Ford launches anti-tariff ad campaign in U.S.

"When someone says let's impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs," Reagan, a beloved figure among free-market Republicans, says in the voice-over used in the ad.

"High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industry shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs," the ad continues.

Trump had seen the ad earlier in the week, yet did not repond so virulently.

"I even see foreign countries now that we are doing very well with [tariffs] taking ads, 'Don't go with tariffs!' " Trump told a gathering of Republicans at the White House on Tuesday.

"I saw an ad last night from Canada. If I was Canada, I'd take that same ad also," said Trump. "But I do believe that everybody's too smart for that." 

A few hours before Trump's late-night post that said he would be terminating trade talks, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute also took issue with the ad.

Listen to President Reagan's unedited remarks here: <a href="https://t.co/1gQUcbR4eZ">https://t.co/1gQUcbR4eZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/iqmjSuypp0">pic.twitter.com/iqmjSuypp0</a>

"The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks," the insitute said in a social media post on Thursday night.

The institute added that it "is reviewing its legal options in this matter."

A spokesperson for Ford says the Ontario government did nothing wrong.

"Reagan knew and spoke directly to Americans that tariffs hurt the U.S. Economy, workers and families. He was a strong supporter of free and fair trade between Canada and America," the spokesperson said.

Ontario is spending $75 million on the campaign, with plans to air the ads on such networks as Fox News, Fox Sports, Newsmax, Bloomberg, NBC, CBS and ABC.

The ad has already been spotted on stations in the Washington, D.C., area, including during Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, which was won by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Correspondent

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